CPR courses

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada sets the Canadian Guidelines for CPR, defibrillation and other aspects of emergency cardiovascular care in Canada. HSFC offers a comprehensive range of CPR training programs that are based on the Guidelines – the most current resuscitation and educational science. The Heart and Stroke Foundation courses you can take include the following:

For the general public:

For healthcare professionals:

Click here for a list of CPR instructors in Saskatchewan by health region

HeartSaver CPR (A)

The HeartSaver CPR course contains up-to-date content and science from the 2005 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiac Care. The course teaches cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and relief of choking in adults. Training in infant and child CPR and choking relief are optional. The course is designed for those who have a duty to respond to a cardiac emergency because of job responsibilities or regulatory requirements. It is also open to the general public.

This course does not train participants in the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).

Approximate course length: 4 hours

To learn more about HeartSaver CPR, contact your provincial Heart and Stroke Foundation.

HeartSaver AED (C)

The HeartSaver AED course is designed to teach lay rescuers the lifesaving skills of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and relief of choking in adults, children and infants. Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use is taught for adults and children. This course teaches participants to recognize and treat emergencies such as cardiac arrest, heart attack, stroke and choking. The course is designed for those who have a duty to respond to a cardiac emergency because of job responsibilities or regulatory requirements. This course is also open to the general public. 

Approximate Course Length:

5 hours with Infant CPR
4 hours without Infant CPR

To learn more about HeartSaver AED, contact our Resuscitation Coordinator at 1-888-473-4636 or 244-6822 ext. 233 in Saskaton.

Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers (C)

The BLS for Healthcare Providers course contains updated content and science from the 2005 Guidelines for CPR and Emergency Cardiac Care. The course addresses core material such as adult and pediatric CPR (including two-rescuer scenarios and the use of bag mask), foreign-body airway obstruction, and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) use. A participant CD is included with the text and contains supplemental information on topics such as stroke, cardiac arrest and special resuscitation situations. The course is designed for healthcare providers such as emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, physicians, dentists, nurses and respiratory therapists who need a credentialed course. This course is also open to first responders who have a duty to respond to a cardiac emergency because of job responsibilities or regulatory requirements.

Approximate course length: 4.5 hours

Approximate course length for renewal course: 4 hours

Categories of BLS Providers (PDF)
BLS Provider Courses available (PDF)

To learn more about BLS for Healthcare Providers, contact our Resuscitation Coordinator at 1-888-473-4636 or 244-6822 ext. 233 in Saskaton.

Intermediate Life Support (ILS)

The ILS program was launched in the fall of 1995 as an Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC) initiative of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan (HSFS). ILS bridges the gap between Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advance life Support (ALS) by providing training to enhance and maintain competency in skills frequently required in emergency situations such as airway management with supplemental oxygen (O2) for adults and childrean; and defibrillation manually or with an automated external defibrillator (AED).
ILS Provider Course (PDF) 

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) for Healthcare Providers

The ACLS for Healthcare Providers course is designed to teach the skills needed to assess and administer care within the first 10 minutes of an adult VF/VT (ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia) arrest. Students will learn the skills needed to manage 10 advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) scenarios: respiratory emergency, 4 types of cardiac arrests (simple VF/VT, complex VF/VT, PEA (Pulseless Electrical Activity) and asystole), 4 types of pre-arrest emergencies (bradycardia, stable tachycardia, unstable tachycardia and acute coronary syndromes) and stroke.

Approximate course length: 8 to 16 hours

ACLS Provider Course (PDF)

To learn more about ACLS for Healthcare Providers, contact our Resuscitation Coordinator at 1-888-473-4636 or 244-6822 ext. 233 in Saskaton.

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) for Healthcare Providers

The PALS for Healthcare Providers course is designed to teach health providers to recognize the indicating factors for infants and children at risk of cardiopulmonary arrest, to help students learn the strategies in preventing arrests in infants and children and to provide students with the skills to safely and effectively apply the cognitive and psychomotor skills for resuscitating and stabilizing infants and children in respiratory failure, shock or cardiopulmonary arrest. A strong emphasis is placed on bag-mask ventilation, management of airway, defibrillation and cardioversion, use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for children older than 1 year, and rhythm management.

Approximate course length: 14 hours

PALS Provider Course (PDF)

To learn more about PALS for Healthcare Providers, contact our Resuscitation Coordinator at 1-888-473-4636 or 244-6822 ext. 233 in Saskaton.

If you would like more information on CPR courses in your community, contact our Resuscitation Coordinator at 1-888-473-4636 or 244-6822 ext. 233 in Saskaton.  If you would like to purchase CPR and AED material, contact Laerdal Medical Canada Ltd. at 1-888-523-7325.

Last reviewed November 2009